Item 3/7/1/1 - General Chapters: Acta; (Decrees): Acta of 20th Gebneral Chapter:

General Chapters: Pius of the Most Holy Name of Mary, C.P., to the whole Congregation. Official Record of the proceedings (Acta) of the 20th General Chapter, Rome, 8-19 May 1857. John and Paul's, Rome. Mentions date of Convocatory Letter (5 Feb. 1857). By Pope Pius IX's wish there were Delegates from both St. Joseph's (Britain and Ireland), and from the French-Belgian-Dutch Province, with voting powers. There were as a result five Provinces, the two mentioned, the Presentation, Addolorata and Pieta. Pope wished Consultors General to be increased by two. The first of these was given the additional job of Secretary General, the second that of Archivist General. Mention is also made why the 2nd Anglo-Belgian Prov. Chapter was NOT held. The 9th & 10th Sessions dealt with the elections to superiorships in this Province, Osmund of the Cross as Rector of Mt. Argus. 14th and 15th Sessions were devoted to the affiars of St. Joseph's Province. At Ignatius' Spencer's plea, an AVE was to be said after the Rosary in every house of the Congregation. (Pope grants Indulgences re such prayers) An Agent from each Province is to be 'de fa1 in John & Paul's, to help General expedite business with that Province. Because of small numbers, St. Jos., St. Michael's, and Pieta were to enjoy suffrages for the dead with Presentation & Addolorata. 19th Session -fixed 'vestiarium' in St . Joseph's as £20 for clerics and £12 for lay novices. Also filed under this location are documents with serial nos. 2 and 3 being MS English translations